Shoulder-strap fastener



March 8 1927.

M. M. MAIDER suoummn STRAP FASTENER Filed Nov. 17, 1926 WWO - Marika M. Widen i Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-Iona- MARTHA M. MAIDER, F AKRON, OHIO.

SHOULDER-STRAP FASTENER.

Application filed November 17. 1926. Serial No. 148,851.

. tion is to provide a fastener of the above kind which isextremely simple and durable in construction as well as efficient in operation.

A more specific object is to provide a shoulder strap holder embodying an improved fastener of the combined clasp and pin type, the clasp element beingengageable with the shoulder strap of the under arment,

and the pin element being engagea is with an outer garment so that the shoulder strap is effectively held against lateral shifting on the shoulder of the wearer.

Still another object is to provide a fastener of the above kind wherein the clasp element engages the shoulder strap to resist longitudinal movements of the latter through the clasp and at the same time allow the longitiidinal edge portions of the shoulder strap to be free, thus giving freedom of movement to the wearers shoulder without causing material discomfort.

Another object is to so construct the clasp element as to permit neat curling of the longitudinal edge portions of an excessively wide shoulder strap in the ends of the clasp element so that the present fastener may accommodate shoulder straps of varying widths, in a practical manner.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novelready for engagement with the shoulder ortions of an outer garment to be donne by the wearer;

Fi re 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing one of the fasteners in elevation and operatively engaged with an) outer garment and a shoulder strap, such shoulder strap ind outer garment being in transverse sec- Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 with the engagement with t e outer garment, and the clasp element in its extended or released condition wherein the insertion of the shoulder strap is freely permitted; I

Figure 4 1s a view somewhat similar to Figure 3 with the clasp element partly returned to normal clasping condition after }pin element open prior to insertion of the shoulder strap, and showing how the longitudinal edge portions of an excessively wide shoulder strap are curled in the ends of the clasp element when the fastener is employed in connection with such an excessively wide shoulder strap; and

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged elevational view of the fastener alone. 7 Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present fastener embodies a strip or piece ofresilient metal, preferably resilient wire,

bent in a novel manner to provide a clasp for.

reception of or engagement with the shoulder strap or straps, and the major portion of a pin fastener for engagement with the adjacent shoulder portion of an outer garment, the remaining portion of the pin fastener consisting of a pin kee er or guard rigidly fastened to an end of t e piece of metal or resilient wire As shown, the clasp portion or element of the fastener consists of a straight bar 5 constituting an intermediate portion of the piece of wire and over which the shoulder strap S is adapted to be placed as shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, and inwardly extending clasping arms 6 integral with and overlyi the respective end portions of the bar 5. The inner ends of the arms 6 ter-' minate in spaced relation adjacent the center of the bar 5 so. that the shoulder strap may be readily passed therebetween for engagement with the bar 5 and positioned between said bar andthe arms 6 as shown. The iece of wire is so bent that the resilient Integral connections between the outer ends of the arms 6 and the respective ends of the bar 5 are in the form of relatively large circular open loops 7, whereby the arms 6 are spaced at the outer ends thereof from the bar 5 for a distance considerably greater than the thickness of the shoulder strap so that they latter is entirely free at its longitudinal edge portions when engaged with the fastener. However, these. arms .6 normally assume an inwardly and downwardly extending position as shown in Figure 5 so that their inner ends are' in close proximity to the adjacent portions of the bar 5 and will therefore have clasping engagement with the shoulder strap adjacent to and at opposite sides of its longitudinal center. Thus, the shoulder strap will be efiectively held against undue shifting and at the same time will be free at its longitudinal edge portions so that the shoul- 'der strap may give within reasonable limits for affording free movement of the wearer's shoulder without causing discomfort. It will be understood that by springing the arms 6 away from the bar 5 as illustrated in Figure 3 the engagement of the fastener with the shoulder strap may be more readily effected, whereupon the arms 6 may be allowed to return to normal position in engagement with the shoulder strap. The arms are shown in the act of returning to normal position, in Figure 4.

A very important function of the relativelv large loop connections 7 is that the same enables the use of the present fastener in connection with shoulder straps which are wider than the length of the bar 5. In such cases, the longitudinal edge portions of the shoulder strap may be conveniently and neatly curled up in the loops 7 as indicated in Figure 4. Naturally, if undergarments are worn which provide more than one shoulder strap upon each shoulder of the wearer, the several shoulder straps may be engaged in the clasp so that relative displacement of the shoulder straps engaged thereby is effectively prevented and they will therefore be maintained in neat super-' imposed relation so as to present a neat appearance.

The pin element consists of similar arms 8 integral with and extending in upwardly diverging relation from the inner ends of the clasp arms 6, a horizontal pin 9 parallel with the clasp bar 5 and integrally connected at one end with the upper end of one of the arms 8 by a coiled integral connection 10 forming a spring which normally tensions the pin element 9 to move upwardly to an open position as in Figures 3 and 4, and a suitable keeper or guard 11 rigidly attached to the upper end of the other arm 8 and behind which the free pointed end of the pin 9 is engageable for retaining the latter in downwardly sprung closed position as in Figures 2 and 5, whereby the pin 9 is maintained in its position penetrating the shoulder portion 12 of an outer garment.

In use, the fastener is engaged ,with the shoulder strap such on agement being facilitated by springing t ie arms 6 upwardly as indicated in Figure 3. With the fasteners engaged with the shoulder straps in this manner, the ins 9 thereof will be left open as indicate in Figure 1, whereupon the outer garment is donned. The pins 9 are then passed through the shoulder portions of the outer garment and then engaged behind their respective guards or keepers 11,

and the shoulder straps and fasteners are then effectively held against lateral displacement so that the shoulder straps are maintained properly positioned upon the shoulders of the user.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A shoulder strap fastener comprising a clasp embodying a strap bar and clasp arms overlyin the strap bar and resiliently connected at t eir outer ends to the ends of said. strap bar, the inner ends of said clasp arms normally engaging the intermediate portion of the strap bar and terminating in spaced relation, and a pin fastener carried by said arms.

2. A shoulder strap fastener comprising a clasp embodying a strap bar and clasp arms overlying the strap bar and resiliently connected at their outer ends to the ends of said strap bar, the inner ends of said clasp arms normally engaging the intermediate portion of the strap bar and terminating in spaced relation, and a pin fastener carried by said arms, the resilient connections between the ends of the bar and the arms embodylng relatively large open loops adapted to have the longitudinal edge portions of a shoulder strap curled up therein when the shoulder strap is wider than the length of the strap bar.

3. A shoulder strap fastener comprising a clasp embodying a strap bar and clasp arms overlying the strap bar and resiliently connected at the outer ends to the ends of said strap bar, the inner ends of said clasp arms terminating in spaced relation, and a pin fastener carried by said arms, sa1d arms being tensioned to normally extend inwardly and downwardly for binding the shoulder strap in engagement with the strap bar at points adjacent the longitudinal center of said shoulder strap and for leaving the longitudinal edge portions of said strap free.

4. A'shoulder strap fastener embod ing a single piece of resilient wire bent to orm a clasp and the major part of a pin fastener, said clasp comprising a strap bar and inturned clasp 'arms carried by the ends of the strap bar and overlying the respective end portions of the latter, said pin fastener comprisin upwardly diverging supporting arms exten ing upwardly from the inner ends of the clasp arms and one having an inwardly projecting extension on its upper end in the form of a pin, and a keeper for said pin on the upper end of the other supporting arm.

5. A shoulder strap fastener embodying a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a clasp and the major part of a pin fastener, said clasp comprising a strap bar and inturned clasp arms carried by the ends of the strap bar and overlying the respective end portions of the latter, said Din fastener comprising upwardly diverging supporting arms extending upwardly from the inner ends of the clasp arms and one having an inwardly projecting extension on its upper end in the form of a pin, and a keeper for said pin on the upper end of the other supporting arm, said clasp arms being inclined inwardly to gri a shoulder strap only at their inner en s.

ture,

MARTHA M. MAIDER.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 2 

